A terminal board for expediting restoration of phone service over a severed communication cable

ABSTRACT

A terminal board for expediting the temporary restoration of phone service following severance of a cable. The board provides rows of tip and ring solderless terminal strips along either edge designed to cut through insulation and making gripping contact with a conductor as an incident to forcibly inserting a conductor along a slit at the outer free end of the resilient terminal strips. Each terminal strip is connected to a contact of a patching cable coupling connected with a second terminal board similarly connected with the conductor pairs of the other severed cable end.

United States Patent [191 Thompson et a1.

[451 Sept. 25, 1973 1 TERMINAL BOARD FOR EXPEDITING RESTORATION OF PHONE SERVICE OVER A SEVERED COMMUNICATION CABLE [76] Inventors: John T. Thompson, 244 Loring St.,

Los Angeles, Calif. 90024; George W. Gillemot, 2331 20th St., Santa Monica, Calif. 90405 22 Filed: Mar. 6, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 232,143

[52] US. Cl 317/118, 317/122, 174/60,

174/88 R, 339/97 R, 339/198 R [51] Int. Cl I-IOZb l/20, HOlr 9/08 [58] Field of Search 174/88, 60, 88 R;

317/99,112,118,122;339/95 R, 97 R, 98,99 R, 198 R, 198 G, 198 11,198 E, 198 J [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,030 9/1956 Scoville 339/277 R Logan 339/97 P Anderson 339/95 P Primary ExaminerJ. V. Truhe Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. Tolin Attorney-William Douglas Sellers et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A terminal board for expediting the temporary restoration of phone service following severance of a cable. The board provides rows of tip and ring solderless terminal strips along either edge designed to cut through insulation and making gripping contact with a conductor as an incident to forcibly inserting a conductor along a slit at the outer free end of the resilient terminal strips. Each terminal strip is connected to a contact of a patching cable coupling connected with a second terminal board similarly connected with the conductor pairs of the other severed cable end.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures A TERMINAL BOARD FOR EXPEDITING RESTORATION OF PHONE SERVICE OVER A SEVERED COMMUNICATION CABLE This invention relates to a repair accessory for a severed communication cable, and more particularly to a terminal board equipped with solderless terminal strips to individual ones of which cable conductors can be quickly connected without need for tools or the removal of insulation and then connected by a temporary patching cable to a second board similarly connected to conductor pairs of the other severed cable end.

It not infrequently happens that a telephone communication cable is accidentally severed by storms or by workmen operating without knowledge of the presence of a phone cable. Phone service over dozens of pairs of conductors is interrupted until the wires of both severed ends can be identified and reconnected. It is of crucial importance that the repair operation be as expeditiously as possible.

Various proposals have been made heretofore for expediting completion of new splice connections. Some of these prior proposals have included resort to devices for making temporary emergency connections pending completion of permanent splice connections. However, the means provided for such purposes are subject to shortcomings and disadvantages avoided by the present invention. More specifically the means heretofore proposed have required excessive time to complete the connections between the severed conductors and temporary conductors and the connections so provided have been unreliable and subject to premature and unpredictable failure.

To avoid the foregoing and other shortcomings there is provided by the present invention a ruggedly constructed terminal board, there preferably being a separate board connectable to each severed cable end and interconnected by a patching cable. The board is equipped with rows of closely spaced solderless terminal strips each connected to a separate contactor of the patching cable coupling. The terminal strips are anchored cantilever fashion to either edge of the board with their free ends projecting therebeyond and notched to guide a sheathed conductor into a slit effective to cut through the sheath and firmly grip the conductor proper. The board is preferably notched in planes aligned with the conductor gripping slit and sized to provide substantial strain relief for the conductor in a zone closely adjacent the terminal strip. In a preferred construction, the solderless terminal strips are arranged in closely spaced rows along either side of the board with one of the rows used to grip tip conductors and the other row being used to grip ring 7 conductors of the many pairs of such conductors in a severed cable. Each of the related pairs of tip and ring terminal strips is connected to a selected contactor of a separable coupling by which the terminals of one board are connected to the associated pair of terminals of the other severed cable end by a patching cable.

Another feature of the invention terminal board is the provision of at least one and preferably a pair of clamping devices secured to the board and useful in anchoring the board firmly to a field support, such as a stake driven in the ground.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved terminal board having the free ends of a multiplicity of solderless terminal strips projecting therefrom for use in quickly connecting tip and ring wires of a severed phone cable thereto to expedite restoration of phone service while permanent splice connections are being made.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ruggedly constructed terminal board notched along at least one lateral edge with each notch aligned with a conductor gripping slit of a solderless terminal strip and each adapted to seat a separate conductor of a severed communication cable, said board being equipped with coupling means for connecting the conductors of a patching cable to individual terminal strips.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rapid restoration terminal board for use in the field to complete temporary connections between the conductors of a severed communication cable without need for tools or the manipulation of adjustable fasteners or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rapid restoration terminal board for use in the field and having a multiplicity of solderless terminal means readily connectable to the individual conductors of a severed cable end and including means for rigidly supporting the board temporarily from the ground and including patching cable means extending between a pair of the terminal boards.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a general elevational view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention terminal board connected to one severed end of a cable;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the terminal board shown in FIG. 1 with portions broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the broken line 3-3 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view with portions broken away and taken along line 4-4 on FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along-line 55 on FIG. 4.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention terminal board, designated generally 10, supported by clamps l2, 12 in an upright position on a stake lll driven into the ground. It will be understood that board 10 is usually employed in pairs with each board supported as shown in FIG. 1 adjacent a respective end of a severed communication cable 13. Such cables are normally located in either underground ducts or supported from overhead messenger cables. If the accident involves an overhead cable, it will be understood that the terminal boards are suspended from any suitable support such as the messenger cable. Board 10 is equipped with one half 15 of any suitable separable coupling or connector having contactors mateable with one another, the second half 16 being attached to the conductors of a flexible patching cable 17. While not illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be understood that the opposite end of patching cable 17 is equipped with a coupling half corresponding to coupling 16 and mateable with a companion coupling half mounted on a second terminal board of like design similarly connected to the other severed cable end.

The constructional details of terminal board 10 are best shown in FIGS. 2-5 to which reference will now be had. The main body of board comprises a pair of elongated non-conductive strips or members 20, 21 held assembled against one another in any suitable manner, such as by screws 22. Member is substantially narrower than member 21 and is formed with closely spaced shallow rectangular wells 24 along either face and opening through the lateral edges of the member. Wells 24 snugly seat one end of a solderless terminal strip, designated generally 25. As herein illustrated, strips 25 are arranged in two layers along either edge of main body member 20 with one layer held assembled to the rear face of the member 20 and the other layer being held assembled to its front face by screws 27 in the manner best shown in FIG. 3. It will also be noted from FIG. 4 that the strips in one layer are offset laterally from the strips in the other layer. The wells 24 on one face of member 20 are offset laterally from the corresponding wells on the other face with their adjacent edges here shown as overlapping slightly. The inner or anchor end of each strip 25 has an elongated hole 26 seating a pair of fastener screws 27 extending into threaded bores formed in member 20.

The solderless terminal strips 25 are formed of tempered resilient conductive material such as phosphor bronze. The mid length of each strip is formed with an elongated cutout 28 (FIG. 4) and their outer free ends have a deep V-shaped notch 29. A sheared slit extends lengthwise of the free end of each strip with one end opening into the apex of notch 29 and the other end opening into cutout 28. In a preferred embodiment, the sharp edges of slits 30 are in virtual abutment with one another as manufactured and assembled to the board. However, the resiliency and strength of the jaw members to either side of the slit is such that the slit edges can be forcible separated as necessary to receive a conductor, such as a size 24 copper wire normally employed in telephone communication cables. These conductors 33 are normally sheathed in a layer of insulation 34 of a nature readily ruptured and torn away by the sharp edges of slits 30.

It will be understood that the wider main body member 21 has its lateral edges projecting substantially to or slightly beyond the outer free ends of terminal strips 25. The underlying portions of body member 21 are provided with deep notches 36 to a depth slightly short of the inner end of slits 30 in terminal strips 25. Each notch 36 underlies a related slit 30 of one of the terminal members and has a width approximating the diameter of the sheathed conductor. The outer ends of notches 36 may be flared to facilitate reception of a conductor about to be pressed into a captive assembled relation in one of the slits 30.

Overlying the front face of member 20 is an elongated cup shaped cover 40 of non-conductive material. This cover overlies and substantially conceals body member 20 and the inner halves of the adjacent layer of terminal strips. This cover is held detachably in place over member 20 by cap screws 42, the shanks of which are preferably surrounded by a spacer sleeve 43. The free edges of the sidewalls are notched at 44 to accommodate lead wires 45 extending between each of the terminal strips 25 and a related contactor 46 of coupling member 15 (FIG. 2), several of these couplings 15 being shown secured to the top side of cover 40 by fasteners 48. One row or layer of terminals 25 is customarily known as the tip terminals whereas the strips in the other layer are known as the ring terminals. The immediately adjacent terminals of each layer are customarily employed to grip to the tip and ring conductors respectively of a given pair of cable conductors.

Clamping devices 12, here shown as anchored to the opposite ends of board 10, may be of any suitable construction. Each device has a mounting bracket 50 firmly anchored across the end of the terminal board, as by screws 51. Bracket 50 projects beyond one lateral edge of the board and supports an adjustable thumb screw 52 at its outer end for the adjustable clamping jaw 53. This jaw cooperates with a fixed jaw 54 mounted between the sidewalls of bracket 50 to grip a support, such as the stake 11.

In the use of the invention restoration board 10, a repair crew proceeds to the site 'of a severed cable and erects separate terminal boards 10 o'pposite either severed end of the cable. A portion of the cable sheath is then removed to expose a suitable length of the conductors 33, 34, the ring and tip conductors of each twisted pair of which are readily identifiable. The workman grasps the conductors of each pair between the thumb and forefinger of each hand and inserts the intervening portion of the conductor between his two hands into a selected one of the slots 36 to the apex of the associated notch 29 and then forcibly along slit 30 of that terminal strip. Usually the wire is shifted laterally along the slit until it bottoms out against the inner end of notch 36 but such bottoming is not essential. The forced insertion of the wire along the slit tears and ruptures the insulation sheath 34 allowing the edges of the slit to make firm high pressure contact with the conductor proper to hold it firmly captive between the ends of the slit 30.

In carrying out the described assembly operation, the operator exercises care to make certain that the ring conductor of a given pair is inserted in the appropriate layer of the terminals and that its companion tip conductor is inserted in the immediately adjacent terminal of the other layer of terminal strips. After all conductors of one served end have been connected to a board in this manner, the necessary number of patching cables are connected to the respective couplings l5, 15. Usually each patching cable accommodates only 25 pairs of conductors and for this reason a pair terminal board utilizes four patching cables and a like number of couplings l5.

The assembly of the conductor pairs of the other severed cable end is carried out in a similar manner except that the operator must first locate a particular pair of conductors in the severed cable end for connection to a particular related pair of tip and ring strips of the second terminal board. This having been completed using well known techniques, the cable is restored to temporary operation and the operator may then proceed to complete permanent splicing repairs on a more leisurely basis and without need for interrupting service over the temporary splice connections.

Although the foregoing description has dealt with the use of the invention board to restore service on a damaged or severed communication cable, it will be understood that it may be put to numerous other uses such as in testing equipment of a wide variety. In all such applications, the solderless terminal strips function in the same manner and provide simple highly reliable means for completing a positive electrical connection to either a sheathed or an unsheathed conductor of appropriate size for the particular terminal strip.

While the particular rapid restoration board for use with severed communication cables herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A rapid restoration board for use in quickly reestablishing temporary service over a severed communication cable preliminary to making permanent splice connections, said board comprising an elongated nonconductive main body supporting along at least one lateral edge at least one row of elongated solderless metal terminal strips each insulated from one another and extending crosswise of said board having unobstructed notched free ends adjacent a lateral edge of said board, said strips being arranged in space apart sideby-side relation with the faces thereof lying substantially in a common plane generally parallel to an adjacent face of said board, said strips being insulated from one another and each having a slit extending inwardly from the inner end of each of said notches, said strips being sufficiently flexible normal to the plane thereof and each of said slits providing means to receive and hold captive a cable conductor forced into said slit while held generally normal to the plane of the strip, and means including removable connector coupling means mounted on said board for connecting each of said strips to a separate conductor of a temporary patching cable.

2. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said main body is relatively thin and wide, and having a row of said terminal strips rigidly mounted along both lateral edges in two spaced apart layers with the notches and slits of the strips in one layer offset laterally from the notches and slits of the adjacent row of terminal strips in the other layer.

3. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said terminal strips are rigidly secured in seating recesses formed along either face of said main body thereby to safeguard against movement of adjacent ones of said strips into contact with one another.

4. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a non-conductive guard strip secured to said main body closely adjacent one face of the latter with its lateral edges terminating opposite the free ends of said terminal strips, and the edges of said guard strip being notched opposite the notch and slit of an associated one of said terminal strips and permitting a conductor to be shifted laterally of the conductor and lengthwise of the notch while being assembled to and disassembled from said terminal strips and providing strain relief for the installed conductor.

5. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said notches have a depth effective to limit the insertion of a conductor lengthwise of the associated one of said terminal strips.

6. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said slits open at the inner ends thereof into an elongated punchout in the mid-length of said terminal strips.

7. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of manually adjustable clamp means mounted on said board for use in clamping the board to a rigid temporary support adjacent one severed end of a cable preparatory to restoring said cable to service.

8. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a detachable protective cover for said main body with its lateral sidewalls spaced inwardly from the slit free ends of said terminal strips, said separable coupling means being mounted on said cover for use in connecting a patching cable to said board, and separate electrical connections enclosed by said cover and interconnecting each of said terminal strips and a terminal of said separable coupling means.

9. A rapid restoration board for use in expediting restoration of a severed communication cable to service using a temporary patching cable, said board comprising first and second elongated non-conductive main body members sandwiched together centrally of one another, said first member being wider with its lateral edges projecting substantially beyond the adjacent lateral edges of said second member, a plurality of tempered metal terminal strips located along the opposite faces of said second member with their free ends notched and projecting outwardly beyond either lateral edge thereof and closely spaced from one face of said first member, each of said strips being resilient and having a long slit longitudinally thereof opening into the inner end of the notched ends of said terminal strips, said slits being adapted to receive and grip a cable conductor manually forced therealong while held generally normal to the plane of the strip, and the lateral edges of said first member being notched in juxtaposition to said slits to facilitate insertion of a conductor along the slit of a selected one of said strips and safeguarding the same against flexure about a lateral edge of said slit.

10. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 9 characterized in the provision thereon of cable coupling means mateable with the complementally shaped cable coupling means of a patching cable, and individual conductors connecting respective ones of said terminal strips to a respective contactor of said cable coupling means.

1 111. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 9 characterized in the provision thereon of means for detachably securing said board to a fixed support adjacent the damaged end of a severed cable.

12. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim .9 characterized in that said terminal strips are arranged in two spaced apart rows, the terminals in one of said rows being for tip conductors, and the notched ends of the terminal strips in said one row being offset and out of line with the notched ends of the terminals strips in said second row.

13. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 12 characterized in that the tip and ring conductors of a related pair of the severed cable conductors are respectively insertable in the first terminal strips at one end of the two rows of terminals along one edge of said board, and other related pairs of the cable conductors being insertable in other similarly related pairs of said terminal strips.

14. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 9 characterized in that the edges of said slits are sharp and effective to cut through insulation on a conductor and to make firm electrical contact with the conductor 16. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 15 characterized in that the mid portions of said terminal strips have a punchout merging with one end of the conductor seating slit and facilitating flexing of the portions of said strip along either edge of said slits. 

1. A rapid restoration board for use in quickly re-establishing temporary service over a severed communication cable preliminary to making permanent splice connections, said board comprising an elongated non-conductive main body supporting along at least one lateral edge at least one row of elongated solderless metal terminal strips each insulated from one another and extending crosswise of said board having unobstructed notched free endS adjacent a lateral edge of said board, said strips being arranged in space apart side-by-side relation with the faces thereof lying substantially in a common plane generally parallel to an adjacent face of said board, said strips being insulated from one another and each having a slit extending inwardly from the inner end of each of said notches, said strips being sufficiently flexible normal to the plane thereof and each of said slits providing means to receive and hold captive a cable conductor forced into said slit while held generally normal to the plane of the strip, and means including removable connector coupling means mounted on said board for connecting each of said strips to a separate conductor of a temporary patching cable.
 2. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said main body is relatively thin and wide, and having a row of said terminal strips rigidly mounted along both lateral edges in two spaced apart layers with the notches and slits of the strips in one layer offset laterally from the notches and slits of the adjacent row of terminal strips in the other layer.
 3. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said terminal strips are rigidly secured in seating recesses formed along either face of said main body thereby to safeguard against movement of adjacent ones of said strips into contact with one another.
 4. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a non-conductive guard strip secured to said main body closely adjacent one face of the latter with its lateral edges terminating opposite the free ends of said terminal strips, and the edges of said guard strip being notched opposite the notch and slit of an associated one of said terminal strips and permitting a conductor to be shifted laterally of the conductor and lengthwise of the notch while being assembled to and disassembled from said terminal strips and providing strain relief for the installed conductor.
 5. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said notches have a depth effective to limit the insertion of a conductor lengthwise of the associated one of said terminal strips.
 6. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said slits open at the inner ends thereof into an elongated punchout in the mid-length of said terminal strips.
 7. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of manually adjustable clamp means mounted on said board for use in clamping the board to a rigid temporary support adjacent one severed end of a cable preparatory to restoring said cable to service.
 8. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a detachable protective cover for said main body with its lateral sidewalls spaced inwardly from the slit free ends of said terminal strips, said separable coupling means being mounted on said cover for use in connecting a patching cable to said board, and separate electrical connections enclosed by said cover and interconnecting each of said terminal strips and a terminal of said separable coupling means.
 9. A rapid restoration board for use in expediting restoration of a severed communication cable to service using a temporary patching cable, said board comprising first and second elongated non-conductive main body members sandwiched together centrally of one another, said first member being wider with its lateral edges projecting substantially beyond the adjacent lateral edges of said second member, a plurality of tempered metal terminal strips located along the opposite faces of said second member with their free ends notched and projecting outwardly beyond either lateral edge thereof and closely spaced from one face of said first member, each of said strips being resilient and having a long slit longitudinally thereof opening into the inner end of the notched ends of said terminal strips, said slits being adapted to receive and grip a cAble conductor manually forced therealong while held generally normal to the plane of the strip, and the lateral edges of said first member being notched in juxtaposition to said slits to facilitate insertion of a conductor along the slit of a selected one of said strips and safeguarding the same against flexure about a lateral edge of said slit.
 10. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 9 characterized in the provision thereon of cable coupling means mateable with the complementally shaped cable coupling means of a patching cable, and individual conductors connecting respective ones of said terminal strips to a respective contactor of said cable coupling means.
 11. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 9 characterized in the provision thereon of means for detachably securing said board to a fixed support adjacent the damaged end of a severed cable.
 12. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said terminal strips are arranged in two spaced apart rows, the terminals in one of said rows being for tip conductors, and the notched ends of the terminal strips in said one row being offset and out of line with the notched ends of the terminals strips in said second row.
 13. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 12 characterized in that the tip and ring conductors of a related pair of the severed cable conductors are respectively insertable in the first terminal strips at one end of the two rows of terminals along one edge of said board, and other related pairs of the cable conductors being insertable in other similarly related pairs of said terminal strips.
 14. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 9 characterized in that the edges of said slits are sharp and effective to cut through insulation on a conductor and to make firm electrical contact with the conductor as an incident to the insertion of the conductor along said slit from the notched entrance end thereof.
 15. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 14 characterized in that the notches in the ends of said terminal strips are generally V-shaped with the apex thereof opening into one end of the associated one of said slits.
 16. A rapid restoration board as defined in claim 15 characterized in that the mid portions of said terminal strips have a punchout merging with one end of the conductor seating slit and facilitating flexing of the portions of said strip along either edge of said slits. 